There was an incident today involving the zoo's male white-tailed deer and two collared peccaries, and, unfortunately, the peccaries did not survive. From Facebook:
New animal alert! Waco: Cameron Park Zoo adds a shark to its collection (Moderator edit - it's a bonnethead shark)
Loki the bonnethead shark was killed by an eel. Cameron Park Zoo's 1st shark killed in altercation with eel
Looks like that entering to the link from the European Union is illegal and conduct to a broken page. I'm really curious about how an eel, even a very big moray, can kill an adult bonnethead...
An orphaned female cougar cub is coming to the zoo. Cameron Park Zoo to adopt orphaned South Dakota mountain lion cub
News about a possible 'bond election' to help raise money for the zoo. The plan is for at least $12 million (from both public and private sectors) to fund a new education center, an animal hospital and a penguin exhibit. https://www.centexproud.com/news/local/future-of-cameron-park-zoo-up-for-debate/1690748029 However, here is an article about cash handling issues at the zoo and the facility still lacks a full-time director: Cameron Park Zoo makes changes after audit finds lax cash-handling procedures
A first grader damaged the caiman exhibit glass. ‘Very unusual’ event damages exhibit at Cameron Park Zoo
Here is a very brief article about the release of a rendering of a penguin exhibit proposed for the zoo: Waco: Zoo shows off rendering of proposed expansion
Cameron Park Zoo will have a brand-new African Penguin exhibit in the future, along with an $8 million education and veterinary complex, plus a few other improvements, because 66% of voters approved the funding. Voters approve $14.5 million zoo expansion bond bringing penguins, new veterinary facility
Due to a leak, Gibbon Lake is being drained in order to make the necessary repairs. The primates that the lake surrounds, gibbons and lemurs, will be off-display until then. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...lanned-for-cameron-park-zoos-gibbon-lake/amp/
Recent News Southern Gerenuk Birth: A male Southern gerenuk calf was born October 21 2019. He has been named Drax. His parents, Dale and Jewel, are among just 50 gerenuks at 10 zoos in the United States: Giraffe-necked baby, Drax, settling in at Cameron Park Zoo Ring-tailed Lemur Birth: Twin male Ring-tailed lemur were born March 24 2020 to Agathon and Crystal Light. They have been named Mike and Ike. They bring the troop to seven - which also includes their aunt Capri Sun, and cousins Skittles and Sprite: Cameron Park Zoo welcomes lemur twins! Greater Kudu Death: A male Greater kudu named Cameron died this month of pneumonia. Cameron was born June 2011: Waco: Zoo loses a kudu to pneumonia
The Cameron Park Zoo is selling t Shirts to help raise funds during the COVID emergency---here is the link if any are interested: Wildlife Fundraiser | Bonfire
Chewy the Linne's Two-toed Sloth (1980-2020) Chewy, Cameron Park Zoo's two-toed sloth, dies just shy of 40th birthday Source: Cameron Park Zoo Chewy was born at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in 1980 and came to Cameron Park in 2009. The lovable creature was just shy of his 40th birthday. The zoo says he died due to gastrointestinal issues related to his advanced age. At almost 40, Chewy was one of the oldest sloths ever under human care, according to Cameron Park Zoo. The zoo says Chewy was a staff and guest favorite because of his gentle and goofy nature. He loved his hammock naps and a good sweet potato or grape snack.
A ripe old age he achieved for a two toed sloth. But let me remind you all that the Bergzoo in Halle, Germany has probably the oldest two toed sloth around globally. She turned 50 only in 2019. Further, the zoo maintains the European studbook for the species. Link: a) Bergzoo Halle: Paula stellt Rekord auf – als ältestes Faultier weltweit | MDR.DE b) Zweifingerfaultier Paula wird 50 – und der Bergzoo Halle steht Kopf | MDR.DE
Death of Elderly African Lioness and North American Black Bear Shamfa the African lioness: Shamfa, the zoo’s eldest African lion, was born on December 14, 1998 at Sedgewick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas and came to Cameron Park Zoo in 2000. At 21 years of age, she lived well beyond the typical life expectancy for African lions, which is 14 to 17 years, the zoo said. Shamfa gave birth to six cubs over her lifetime at Cameron Park Zoo and was an “excellent mother.” Shamfa passed away peacefully in her sleep. Balou the North American black bear: Balou, a North American black bear, was confiscated by US Fish and Wildlife Department because he was being kept as a pet and was taken to Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas in 1999. He arrived at Cameron Park Zoo in 2005. Balou’s age was estimated at 21 years. The average longevity for North American black bears is estimated between 21 and 33 years old, the zoo said. Full article here: Waco: Cameron Park Zoo mourns deaths of Balou and Shamfa
New Arrivals: The Zoo announced the new acquisitions today, welcoming Morrison, Ghost, and Mogwli to the zoo: Morrison is a young male Capybara, who came to the zoo from Reid Park Zoo on July 20, 2020. He will reside in the El Rey de la Montaña(The King of The Mountain) South America habitat. Keepers say that should everything go well, he will be on exhibit starting this weekend. Ghost is a true albino Racoon that came to Waco on July 21, 2020 from a Houston rehabber. He was acquired from a family who brought him to the rehab facility after learning that they are illegal to own as a pet in Texas. He is approximately 3 ½ months old, and zoo staff estimate he was born around May. Mowgli is a young male American black bear and comes from Garrison, Minnesota. His mother died during hibernation and he and his sister were rescued by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources officials. Full article: Cameron Park Zoo welcomes three new animals for visitors | KWKT - FOX 44
Tanya, one of the Zoo's African elephants passed away recently. Cameron Park Zoo mourns loss of African elephant, Tanya | kcentv.com
The expansion is on track to begin in the next couple of months: Full article: Cameron Park Zoo Expansion Moves Forward The $14.5 million dollar expansion will add some new features to the zoo including a penguin exhibit, a veterinary clinic, educational complex, and a hoof stock barn for the African Safari animals. Looks like the actual building part of the expansion will happen early in 2021. Binder said the hoof stock barn will replace an older building in the African Safari zone, and will be the first project undertaken. Plans for the new barn are nearing completion, after which planners will move on to plans for a veterinary and education complex on the southeast side of the zoo's parking lot. The new penguin facility called Penguin Shores will be home to warm weather South African penguins, and will be located at the northeast corner of the zoo near the herpetarium off Herring Avenue.
